Waimate North.

Northland Age, Volume 3, Issue 9, 2 October 1906, Page 6

Waimate North.

(From our own Correspondent.) The miserable, uncertain weather we have been having for the last few reeks has greatly hindered outdoor work, the soil being too wet to allow working. I hear things are going to boom in the milking line at Pakaraka this season. There will be six or more suppliers, while last season I think there were only two. Two native children died in the Waitangi settlement a week or so ago, while a youth named Edmonds I hear died of typhoid fever, but being out of my district I cannot get particulars. Last week while a party of workmen were punting it down the Waitangi river the punt somehow or other got wrong way up, and you can guess the rest. However the only missing one is a black billy containing sundries. Such misfortunes (however unpleasant to the principal actors) almost always cause a quiet smile to the chance observer. I hear the youth and strength here have started a club for the purpose of gaining an insight into the noble art of self defence, also single sticks exercise. The club is about twenty strong at present, and if they could only find talent eneugh to give a public entertainment it would help cheer us up. September 17, 1906. Our correspondent also writes under date 27th September, 1906, as follows: — Tone, the much respected chief of the Oromahoe natives, died last Saturday morning. The old gentlenian has for years exercised his authority over his tribe and was very fair and just in settling any petty troubles among his people. He was buried on Monday last, when over two hundred shots were fired over the grave. The Hon. H. Williams, Esq., M.L.C., was among those present at the funeral. Coming events cast their ihaddows before, so we are told, and we alt.hope there

will be sunshine enough to make shaddows on the 9th November next—the day fixed for the forthcoming Spring Show—as the event is looked forward to with the hope of spending a pleasant day by almost every one, especially the ladies, as they can get under the shady puriri trees and chat over their tea and the contents of well-filled baskets and thoroughly enjoy themselves. At present there are leaflets circulating here touching on the volunteer movement, with the object of increasing the numbers and of instructing all capable Sis in the use of the rifle, also of g the boys at school, which I think is the right place for such teaching, as knowledge gained when young is almost always retained in after years. Touching on the volunteering part I can say that it often causes great inconvenience to many of the members, especially among settlers who have to attend to the thousand and one things on a farm and are never certain of the moment when their presence may be required, and are almost sure to be busy on the day advertised for parade, and should they be absent the officer in charge will reprimand or probably impose a fine (at least they used to impose a fine a few years ago, and I exrct the rules are much the same now). am of opinion that if the defence department could make special rules for the country districts and do away with so much red tape and the owearing-in part of the performance and give drill and firiug instruction to any capable person who cared to attend parade, I am sure '’'most everyone would attend, and I may o.*y that every true-born Britisher will be true to his country whether he be a sworn soldier or not, so give him a rifle and teach him its uses and when he is wanted you will find him made of the right stuff without going to the trouble of making him take the oath of allegiance. This would especially refer to the country resident, as his life among stock of all kinds and having to rough it at times gives him the advantage over his townliving cousin for a soldier’s necessary qualifications.